“This Scooter Has Changed My Life!”
By Melanie Preston

I have a Sunrise Medical Elite scooter which I love as it’s given me freedom and independence.

It’s very well designed and the controls are very easy to operate. It’s a smooth ride over pavements and the seat is so incredibly comfortable – like an armchair. I have no trouble being on it for an hour.

This scooter has completely changed my life. For 2-3 years I couldn’t go outside at all to walk around, not even to post a letter, and could only travel around by taxis, which was expensive and you don’t have control over when you come and go. The scooter makes me much more independent. I can go and visit friends – I wasn’t able to do that before. And I can go to local shops, have my hair done, and buy a paper. I feel I’ve been out for a bit of fresh air. I can go to a cafe and sit at an outside table and have a coffee. I also go on it to my Pilates class twenty minutes away.  Friends and family are amazed at its quality.

I think it’s a young, disabled person’s scooter. It is expensive, but as I don’t drive a car, this was my answer to driving. When I was looking for a scooter, I wanted something which reflected my personality – which is to be outgoing and adventurous. I didn’t want a scooter which just went on pavements, but something which could take me through woods and into the countryside. This scooter can go places other scooters can’t manage. It can go 36 miles on one charge, can handle grass, sand and rough terrain and can climb up a 4” kerb.

Before MS, I used to love mountain walking, and now my scooter enables me to climb steep hills again. I can now go for walks with my husband Mark – something I haven’t been able to do for years.  Now we’ve got a large Toyota Corolla, we take the scooter with us wherever we go. We’ve got family on the south coast and can have sea walks along the cliffs. Mark can walk beside me and we can still talk. It’s got a variable speed up to 8mph and if I go a bit faster it can keep him fit.

Before getting this scooter, Mark pushed me in the wheelchair but it’s not the same as walking beside him talking and being able to enjoy the walk. In a wheelchair, you can’t see the person who’s pushing you, but in a scooter they can walk beside you. When you’re in a wheelchair, it feels a very passive thing to do, especially when you’re pushed. I find it very painful when people talk to my husband and not me. When you’re on a scooter, it shows you’ve got all your faculties.

I like the way it looks and chose it in navy. I’ve been out in all weathers and it’s really waterproof. After it’s rained, you only have to wipe it down with a tea towel and it’s completely dry to get into. You can buy a canopy so it’s completely covered like a little car. I’ve got a rain poncho which kept me really dry and my hands dry. If it gets dark while you’re out, you just switch on the headlights and feel completely safe. It’s got plenty of storage space, with a decent size basket and also a little boot. There’s room to put stuff on the base too.

I keep the scooter outside my flat, covered up with a fitted tarpaulin. The charger lead goes through the letter box. I always keep it fully charged and it always takes me where I want to go.

Of all the things I own, it’s my most prized possession. I can’t praise it highly enough.

Source: New Pathways Magazine MSRC

To get the most out of your scooter; it can be invaluable to add extra storage and protect yourself (and your scooter) from the weather.

Here is a short summary of some accessories that are available for your mobility scooter.

Bags and baskets

Just like with wheelchairs, bikes and motorbikes; it is your scooter that needs to carry any goods and not you.

Scooter bags can be very spacious and they attach to the back of your scooter seat.

Pannier bags as the name suggests, fit to the side of your scooter. They can also be attached to the side of a wheelchair. They don’t offer as much storage as a bag that fits on the back of your scooter, but they can offer you a storage area that is convenient and you can reach more easily.

Most scooters come with a basket on the front, however you pay prefer a different kind. Baskets generally come in wire or wicker varieties. For extra storage you can also get baskets that attach to the back of your scooter.

Basket bags and basket liners are a good way of utilising the basket on you scooter. They enable you to put small items in your basket without fear of them falling out. They can provide a weatherproof cover for the items in your basket.

Weather protection

Your mobility scooter enables you to get out and about but what will protect you from the rain while you are using it? Wearing a waterproof coat is one way, but a better way is often to use a canopy or cape.

Scooter canopies completely cover you and the scooter; they have windows at the front and sides so you have maximum visibility. They keep the wind and rain off you so you get to your destination dry and not windswept.

They bolt onto your scooter and generally fit larger mobility scooters.

Scooter capes fit over you and your scooter. They usually fasten to your scooter using Velcro and are easy to remove. They have openings for lights, mirrors and mirrors and again protect your body from the wind and rain.

There are many more accessories available for your scooter. They range from walking stick holders and armrests, to storage covers and garages.